From Old English 'leornian,' from PIE *leys- (track, furrow) — gaining knowledge was originally following a path.
To gain knowledge or skill by study, experience, or being taught.
From Old English 'leornian' meaning 'to get knowledge, to be cultivated, to study,' from Proto-Germanic *liznōną (to learn, to follow a track), from PIE root *leys- (a track, furrow). Learning was originally conceived as following a track or a furrow — the metaphor of knowledge as a path you walk along. The same root produced German 'lernen' (to learn) and is related to 'lore,' the accumulated
English 'learn' and 'lore' both come from the same Proto-Germanic root meaning 'to follow a track.' Learning was literally track-following — and 'lore' (as in 'folklore') is the accumulated knowledge found along that path. Even 'last' (the shoemaker's wooden foot form) comes from the same root, via 'following a footprint.'